Unauthorized penetration of airspace. Proximity of TCA.

Attributes
ACN	232768
Time
Date	199301
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cle
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cle
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 50 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	232768
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying a 3 leg student cross country solo from bkl to mfd to 29G. I had flown to mfd with no difficulties and was en route to 29G. About 20 NM west of 29G, I observed a solid line of snow showers. I had obtained a duat and FSS briefing at bkl and got a briefing from a WX specialist at mfd, the snow was not forecast. I decided to abort the proposed route and not to fly into the snow and return to bkl. I turned north and attempted to fix my location using pilotage. I idented a north/south 2-LANE interstate highway that would lead me back to bkl and began to fly along it. After about 15 NM, I began to realize that I had picked the wrong highway and was about 10 NM west of course and very close to cle TCA. I could see cle airport and rapidly fixed my position using the djb and aco vortacs. I had flown into the 1900-8000 ft ring of the TCA at 2500 ft. Due to the change in course and plans, position awareness and verification was not maintained. I contacted cle approach and advised the controller that I had flown into the TCA. The controller gave me a radar beacon code and cleared me into the TCA. I flew to bkl without further difficulty. I feel that the decision to not fly into the snow was a sound one. I failed to plan exactly what course I was going to fly before I diverted or shortly thereafter. I then waited too long to verify my position with navaids, I assumed I was following the right road.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE. PROX OF TCA.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING A 3 LEG STUDENT XCOUNTRY SOLO FROM BKL TO MFD TO 29G. I HAD FLOWN TO MFD WITH NO DIFFICULTIES AND WAS ENRTE TO 29G. ABOUT 20 NM W OF 29G, I OBSERVED A SOLID LINE OF SNOW SHOWERS. I HAD OBTAINED A DUAT AND FSS BRIEFING AT BKL AND GOT A BRIEFING FROM A WX SPECIALIST AT MFD, THE SNOW WAS NOT FORECAST. I DECIDED TO ABORT THE PROPOSED RTE AND NOT TO FLY INTO THE SNOW AND RETURN TO BKL. I TURNED N AND ATTEMPTED TO FIX MY LOCATION USING PILOTAGE. I IDENTED A N/S 2-LANE INTERSTATE HWY THAT WOULD LEAD ME BACK TO BKL AND BEGAN TO FLY ALONG IT. AFTER ABOUT 15 NM, I BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT I HAD PICKED THE WRONG HWY AND WAS ABOUT 10 NM W OF COURSE AND VERY CLOSE TO CLE TCA. I COULD SEE CLE ARPT AND RAPIDLY FIXED MY POS USING THE DJB AND ACO VORTACS. I HAD FLOWN INTO THE 1900-8000 FT RING OF THE TCA AT 2500 FT. DUE TO THE CHANGE IN COURSE AND PLANS, POS AWARENESS AND VERIFICATION WAS NOT MAINTAINED. I CONTACTED CLE APCH AND ADVISED THE CTLR THAT I HAD FLOWN INTO THE TCA. THE CTLR GAVE ME A RADAR BEACON CODE AND CLRED ME INTO THE TCA. I FLEW TO BKL WITHOUT FURTHER DIFFICULTY. I FEEL THAT THE DECISION TO NOT FLY INTO THE SNOW WAS A SOUND ONE. I FAILED TO PLAN EXACTLY WHAT COURSE I WAS GOING TO FLY BEFORE I DIVERTED OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER. I THEN WAITED TOO LONG TO VERIFY MY POS WITH NAVAIDS, I ASSUMED I WAS FOLLOWING THE RIGHT ROAD.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.